Bad News....aka Food Allergy Results

Emma had a lot of potential food allergies show up on her scratch test.  However, with people that have as many environmental allergies as she does, it is common for false positives on the foods.  After the scratch test, she was sent to have blood drawn to see which ones are real and which are not.  I got the call a few days ago, and it has turned our world upside down.

As I stated in an earlier post, Emma already has a very restricted diet.  Back in August, we had to completely cut out milk products.  In April of last year, Emma was not lactose intolerant (according to a biopsy), but she was in August (according to another biopsy).  Apparently, we discovered it right around the time she was "becoming" intolerant.  Given her history, her doctor wanted her on complete lactose restriction.  (We have seen no positive changes in her health.)

So, she was already on a diet with no fried foods, fatty foods, caffeine, carbonation, chocolate, or milk.

But, as of this past Wednesday, she can no longer have any of the previous foods as well as soy, almonds, peanuts, strawberries, carrots, peas, garlic, onion, oysters, tomatoes, lima beans, or white beans.  The good news is we don't eat oysters.  The blood tests revealed that she is allergic to all of these, so she is on complete restriction.

I have since learned the following:

• Soy is in everything--even gum.
• Soy free butter has pea protein.
• Chicken broth has carrots and peas.
• Soy is in everything--even cooking spray.
• Garlic is in mustard.
• Soy is in everything--even mayonnaise.
• Emma can't have her beloved honey mustard because, yes, soy is in everything.
• The green gummy bear (Haribo brand) is strawberry flavored.
• Soy free stuff is ridiculously expensive, and it often has peas and/or carrots in it.
• Ketchup has tomatoes in it.  (Ha!  I obviously knew this, but we were so intent on finding something in the fridge for Emma to dip her bland grilled chicken in.  We got so intent on looking for something without soy or garlic in it that we forgot all about the tomato allergy!)

As for right now, we are figuring out how to change everything.  Shopping for all of her food allergies is difficult--and expensive.  I spent $93 at the health food store today and basically walked out with some spices, cooking spray, "butter", and a few other basics to cook with.  

Emma is struggling a bit with being down about all of this, and I feel like I am forcing her to eat.  (It is not the first time I have had to force her to eat.  Back in December, she started to refuse food for fear of getting sick.  Her doctor told her if she lost any more weight and didn't start eating that he would have to put in a feeding tube.  That was an eye opener for her since she knew it would stop her from being able to play sports.)  I am working hard to find things she can eat so that she can feel as "normal" as possible.  I am hoping to get a firm grasp on things before school starts back in the fall.

On the bright side, I found some honey mustard she can eat, so I was Supermom today!  Shawn cooked her a pork chop, so he was Superdad!